Course Title: Northwest Plants s1
Northwest Plants II – Spring 2015
Nepeta cataria - Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave (27,000- 32,900 BP) – Pencil (<OF pincel, <L penicillus)
Course: ENVS 289, Northwest Plants II: Plant Identification & Botanical Illustration (5 credits)
Meeting Details: As arranged by instructor and student
Instructor Information:
Instructor: Brian D. Compton, Ph.D.
Office Location: Kwina Office/Classroom Complex #110 (in Building 15)
Office Hours: As posted and by appointment
Telephone: (360) 392-4321
Fax: 360-392-4333 (c/o NWIC Enrollment Services, "ATTN: Brian Compton")
Email:
Blog: http://blogs.nwic.edu/briansblog/
Science Writing Mentor Information:
Please note that this course involves several writing assignments that are to be developed through collaboration with Science Writing Mentors at Northwest Indian College, i.e., Lynda Jensen and Rebecca Saxton, whose contact information is presented below. Please consult with them for further details regarding their availability and turn-around time for reviewing and providing editorial feedback on writing assignments.
Writing Mentor: Lynda Jensen, M.A.
Office Location: Although it is not my office, when I am not in class, I am most reliably found in NE 106 (the lounge in Building 16).
Office Hours: By appointment.
Email:
Writing Mentor: Rebecca Saxton, M.F.A.
Office Location: Room 208, Building 4, Lummi Campus
Telephone: 360-392-4330
Email:
Availability: As posted and by appointment
Course Description:
Field- and lab-based course designed to build upon skills and knowledge developed in ENVS 201, Northwest Plants by expanding students' knowledge of botany through botanical illustration of local Northwest flora. Covers expanded aspects of plant identification, nomenclature, terminology, and taxonomy as well as basic tools and techniques employed in illustrating botanical subjects.
Course Overview and Rationale:
This course serves to introduce students interested in botany to additional topics and methods not currently available in the Northwest Indian College curriculum, especially regarding the relationship between art and science. It will involve aspects of scientific and artistic botanical illustration. Technical aspects regarding the illustration and communication of botanical information (botanical illustration) with be emphasized, but artistic aspects of illustrating plant material also will be treated to with the goal of broadening and deepening student understanding of essential aspects of botany.
Botanical illustration as a method of studying, understanding and communicating about plants is ancient, and was used early in the history of the United States to communicate information about important native plants (cf. Bigelow, 1817-1820, Blunt & Stearn, 1950 & 1994, Kniskern, 1959 and Sahagún, 1577). Many early herbals, pharmacopoeia and codices depicted plant subjects. Prior to more contemporary technical methods of capturing and producing images, drawing and painting were the primary ways of depicting biological subject matter. And today, scientific, including botanical illustration is preferred in many cases for the additional information that it may communicate regarding key taxonomic and other features.
This course will further student’s botanical knowledge and skills, and introduce them to basic methods to create images of plant material. The course content will include the expected botanical information as well as reference to tools such as the camera lucida, sketching and drawing methods, and the use of coloring and labeling to depict botanical subjects.
Recommended Texts:
Several good books regarding botanical illustration exist. The following list includes titles that are readily available and may be useful. Two in particular—West & Blunt (1996) and King (2004) provide particularly good information regarding materials and methods of botanical illustration. The field guide by Pojar and McKinnon (2004) treats the common plants of our region. Other titles listed below are good sources for technical information regarding plants and botanical illustration.
Brodie, C. (2007). Drawing and painting plants. Portland, OR: Timber Press. [ISBN: 978-0-88192-841-9; Whatcom County Library System: 751.4 BRODIE 2006]
· Christina Brodie draws on her extensive experience as a botanical art teacher in compiling this complete course on drawing and painting plants. Clear step-by-step instructions show how to accurately render a wide range of plants and plant parts - from flowers, fruits, and seeds through leaves, stems, bark, and roots to fungi, ferns, mosses, and seaweeds. Christina Brodie's concise text and beautiful, detailed examples illustrate techniques for various media, including pencil, ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylics, and scraper board. This highly practical manual offers a complete course of instruction in basic and advanced techniques of botanical illustration, and is suitable for beginning artists and journal keepers as well as teachers and professional illustrators.
West, K. R., & Blunt, W. (1996). Portland, OR: Timber Press in association with The British Museum (Natural History). [ISBN: 0-88192-350-8; Lummi Library: QK 98.24 .W466 1996]
· The best introductory book on the subject examines plant structures and the problems they present to illustrators, then discusses the artist's tools and how to use them: pencils, erasers, papers, brushes, watercolors, gouache, and acrylics.
Harris, J. G., & Harris, M. W. (2001). (2nd ed.). Spring Lake, UT: Spring Lake. (Original work published 1994) [ISBN-10: 0964022168, ISBN-13: 978-0964022164]
· Plant identification employs an extensive and complex terminology. Professional botanists often need several years in the field to master this terminology, and it presents a daunting obstacle to the student of botany. The meaning of most botanical terms, however, is immediately apparent when an illustration is available. That is the purpose of this volume. Plant Identification Terminology provides over nineteen hundred clear illustrations of terms used in plant identification keys and descriptions. It also includes definitions for more than twenty-seven hundred taxonomic terms.
Hickey, M., & King, C. (2000). . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [ISBN-10: 0521794013, ISBN-13: 978-0521794015]
· This beautifully illustrated glossary constitutes an extraordinary collection of the specialist terms used in many botanical works. The book is arranged in two sections: the glossary, which provides clear definitions for over 2400 of the most commonly used botanical and horticultural terms, and illustrations, which can be cross-referenced to the glossary. The illustrations section comprises over 120 large format pages packed with accurate, well labelled line drawings that complement the definitions. The illustrations are grouped according to specific features, allowing quick comparisons of different forms. This outstanding reference will be welcomed by all readers grappling with botanical terms, whether student, professional, or hobbyist.
Johnson, C. (1995). First Steps Series: Sketching and drawing. Cincinnati, OH: North Light Books. [ISBN-10: 0891346155, ISBN-13: 978-0891346159]
· A sketching and drawing manual which offers advice on when, what and where to sketch, useful tips for blending, shading, perspectives and other techniques, and exercises to help practice what has been taught. Available from Dakota Art Store in Bellingham, WA. Recommended
King, B. S. (2004). . Cincinnati, OH: North Light Books. [ISBN-10: 1581804946, ISBN-13: 978-1581804942; Whatcom County Library System: Oversize 760.04434 KING 2004]
· Acclaimed botanical artist Bente Starcke King shows artists of all levels how to create artful and soulful illustrations of tulips, irises, rose hips, echinacea and more. Taking readers step-by-step through proven techniques for capturing this popular subject matter, Beautiful Botanicals provides numerous tips and 19 demonstrations for all the most popular mediums, including watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, ink wash and mixed media (watercolor with colored pencil or ink.
Leslie, C. W. (1980). . Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. [1992 version: ASIN: B002JYO75Y; Lummi Library - QK 98.1 .L565]
· Available in the Lummi Library.
Pojar, J., & MacKinnon, A. (Eds.). (2004). Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska (Rev. ed.). Renton, WA: Lone Pine. (Original work published 1994) [ISBN-10: 1-55105-530-9, originally published as Plants of Coastal British Columbia]
· This is an excellent reference for the identification of local plants which also includes a significant amount of ethnobotanical information for many species of significance to Native peoples of our region. Note: All versions of this text are suitable for use in this course.
Recommended Websites--Botany:
Herbarium at the Burke [University of Washington Herbarium]. (2011). Retrieved January 31, 2011, from Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture website: http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/herbarium/index.php
Legler, B. (2006). Winter twig identification key. Retrieved February 19, 2009, from Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture website: http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php?Page=wintertwigkey.php
PLANTS database. (2009, February 17). Retrieved February 19, 2009, from United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service website: http://plants.usda.gov/
Simpson, M. G. (2010). Plant systematics (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Academic Press. [ISBN: 978-0-12-374380-0; includes Appendix 2: Botanical Illustration which is available online through Google Books at
http://books.google.com/books?id=Enuaxb9FymEC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=appendix%202&f=false]
Recommended Websites—Botanical Illustration:
A weekend of botanical art at the Eden Project. (2013, September 3). Retrieved April 7, 2015, from ArtPlantae Today website: http://artplantaetoday.com/tag/eden-project/ [Includes description of the Eden Project <http://www.edenproject.com/>: Located in Cornwall, England, the Eden Project is a non-profit whose focus is connecting people to the natural world through educational programs, social programs, music and art.]
How to draw plants for documentation. (2010, June 25). Retrieved April 10, 2015, from ArtPlantae Today website: http://artplantaetoday.com/2010/06/25/how-to-draw-plants-for-documentation/ [Includes link to downloadable PDF entitled "Drawing Plants: Ten Pointers to Botanical Illustration."]
Jackson's Art Supplies. (2011, June 7). Faber Castell - botanical illustration with Wendy Hollander [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3mBwy4HuYI [4:22 mins.; Wendy Hollander guides you through an introduction to botanical illustration using Faber Castell Polychromos pencils and Albrecht Durer pencils, with stunning results.]
Laws, J. M. (2015). How to draw plants. Retrieved April 9, 2015, from http://www.johnmuirlaws.com/drawing-plants [John Muir Laws nature stewardship through science, education, and art; video series created with the California Native Plant Society to teach some basic techniques to quickly and accurately draw plants, either for field sketching or careful botanical illustrations]
Scientific illustration: Aiding the study and classification of plants. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2015, from American Society of Botanical Artists website: https://www.asba-art.org/about-botanical-art/scientific-illustration [Includes educational resources including "Teaching Botanical Art" at https://www.asba-art.org/botanical-art/teaching-botanical-art, and "How-to Books" at https://www.asba-art.org/botanical-art/how-books.]
Scientific Illustration and plant identification. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2015, from https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/Course.aspx?reg=Y3161 [Course description: Held at locations in and around the Los Angeles area, this course teaches plant identification and scientific illustration of plants, including essential plant form and part characteristics and illustration techniques using lead pencils. Working with an established plant pallet chosen by the instructor, students learn how to use plants and other garden elements to create a particular aesthetic. Students must provide their own transportation. Internet access required to retrieve course materials. Course syllabus available as downloadable PDF at https://webimages.uclaextension.edu/webimages/prod/FileRoot/Syllabus/228838.pdf?r=120]
Wise, R. (n.d.). Drawing plants: Ten pointers to botanical illustration. Retrieved April 7, 2015, from ArtPlantae Today website: https://artplantaetoday.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/wiserosemary_drawingplants_planttalkapr1999.pdf [downloadable PDF available from "How to Draw Plants forDocumentation" entry at ArtPlantae Today at http://artplantaetoday.com/2010/06/25/how-to-draw-plants-for-documentation/]
Online Support:
This course is supported by the instructor's blog (see above under Instructor Information). In the event of an unscheduled college closure, check this site for course assignments and updates so that you may continue your academic progress outside of class.
Required and Recommended Materials:
Botanical illustrations may range from simple leaf rubbings, to freehand sketches in two or three dimensions involving the use of only one pencil or pen to colored, multi-layered and otherwise enhanced images utilizing pencils, pens, watercolors and other materials and methods as well as the use of aids to illustration such as light boxes or pads and a camera lucida. Note that many of the items listed below may be obtained locally (e.g., from the Dakota Art Store in downtown Bellingham for which some prices are listed).
Required Materials—Basic:
· Pencils—Graphite (Note: Pencils range from very hard to very soft with the following designations from hard to soft: 6H, 5H, 4H, 3H, 2H, HB, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B and 6B.)
o 2H for detailed drawing, HB for posture sketching and 2B, 3B or 4B for shading and making rubbings
o Ticonderoga ($0.45 each)
o Mechanical (or propeller) pencils using refillable lead also may be used, but generally are not suitable for rubbings
· Sharpener
o Any type
· Eraser
o Any type, e.g., as provided with pencils
· Paper for notes and lab illustrations
o Any type, e.g., standard typing or photocopy paper
Recommended Materials—Intermediate:
· Pencils--Various
o General’s Drawing & Sketching Pencil Kit #20 (includes pastel pencils,
charcoal pencils, other assorted pencils, kneaded rubber eraser and sharpener; $20.99)
· Sharpener
o Any type (ca. $0.50 - $6.70 for a simple hand-held sharpener to one with three
Different sharpening depths)
o Or, use X-acto knife to avoid twisting and breaking lead
· Eraser
o Included in General’s #20 Kit listed above
· Paper
o Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Pad (all-purpose paper suitable for rubbings or drawing
And with detachable pages)
§ 3.5” x 5”, 100 sheets ($4.59)
§ 5.5” x 8.5”, 100 sheets ($6.950
§ 9” x 12”, 100 sheets ($11.50) – recommended
§ 11” x 14”, 24 sheets ($10.45)
§ 5” x 12”, 50 sheets ($7.09)
Recommended Materials—Extended:
· Pencils--Graphite
o Faber-Castell 9000 Series graphite pencil (various hardness levels, $1.40 each)
o Cretacolor Monolith graphite pencil (e.g., 2B, 4B or 6B; $2.05 each)
· Pencils—Colored
o Prismacolor Colored Pencils
§ Scholar erasable Colored Pencils (available in sets of 12, 24, 48
and 60; from ca. $10.00-$30.00 per set)
§ Premier Colored Pencils (set of 12, wax based, lead glued only at
tips, harder than Faber-Castell; $22.04; also available in larger sets)
o Faber-Castell Colour Pencils - Polychromos (set of 12, oil-based, lead glued
throughout, softer than Prismacolor; $25.80; also available in larger sets)
· Sharpener
o As indicated above
· Eraser
o Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber (large, $1.65; small, $1.05)
o Staedler Mars Plastic ($1.60)
o MONO Sand Eraser 512A for typewriter ($2.49)
· Paper
o Strathmore 400 Series (as indicated above)
· Other
o Derwent blender (to blend colors) or burnisher (to provide rich, glossy finish; $1.89 each)
Recommended Tools & Materials:
· Camera Lucida (for projecting images onto paper)
o LUCID-Art Camera Lucida <http://www.ancientmagicarttools.com/lucid-art-camera/> (photo projector and drawing board also available); product review <http://painting.about.com/od/artsupplies/gr/camera-lucida-magic-tools.htm